Music

The Riptide Movement Live … in a Kitchen?

On a blustery Wednesday night in March as you drive through a housing estate on the North Side of Dublin, you would be forgiven if you thought of it like any other Wednesday. This one however, was a bit different and the only thing to differentiate it would be a large silver van parked in a driveway.

Nothing seems suspect until you open the front door of one house along the road only to be greeted by laughter and disjointed music coming from the kitchen. It’s only when you walk through the kitchen door that you see a full band setting up for a night of music and entertainment. The band being The Riptide Movement. Fresh off the Olympia Theatre stage last Friday, the band find themselves in a quainter situation, in Aoife’s kitchen. Aoife being an FM104 competition winner, who won the chance for The Riptide Movement to play for her and whoever else could fit into her living room, or kitchen in this case. Sporting nearly a full set up including keyboard, guitars – acoustic, electric and bass, the only instrument stripped back was the drum kit, consisting of one drum and a cymbal, with a towel over the drum to muffle the sound (The neighbours were probably thankful for that one).

Shortly after tucking into some pizza, the band started their set. Banging out some of their greats like, You and I, Elephant in the Room, Skull and Crossbones and of course, All Works Out.

The Riptide Movement Live ... In a kitchen?

Managing to get the crowd to sing along to most if not all their songs, with lead vocalist Mal Tuohy even making his way into the crowd and got people to sing into the mic. Between someone turning off the kitchen light in the middle of a song, the lads taking a moment to say good bye to a fan who had to leave early, a cry from a parched reveller for a cup of tea and the question “Aoife, did you turn off the heating?” the night will be a lasting memory for all in attendance, and the band will probably look back on it fondly, especially for the great cup of tea they shared with their host before anyone else arrived.

Once the set was done, the lads, used to the routine by now, had their gear packed away in 15 minutes, it probably didn’t hurt that a few of the crowd offered to help carry it out the door. With a few more photos at the door before they said their last goodbyes driving off into the wet night, probably home to bed, as it was “a school night” after all. A very surreal experience for all involved, and if you ever get a chance to see The Riptide Movement play live in a kitchen, it is definitely a must do.

Alas, for now you can make do with catching them at Dolans Warehouse, Limerick on Friday 24 March. You can get your tickets here.

Note: author (despite same name) did not win this competition and was just lucky enough to attend!